Whether looking to buy or just to browse,
it helps to know and understand the
terminology
used in describing our jewelry. We
hope these
"Helpers" will enable you
to enjoy
our site and descriptions. However,
if you
have any questions, please EMAIL us !

If you already know the item #, enter it
on theMain Catalog Page There is also a place on this page
to input your search specifics. (Searches
Main Catalog only)

Don't Forget To Browse The Galleries
You'll find many items here that are not
listed
in the Main Catalog.

**VIEWING TIP: If a picture doesn't show up in the gallery
selections, simply right click on the picture
and then click "show picture" on
the drop down menu. Sometimes this is caused
by slow download time or heavy traffic. If
you still have a problem viewing a picture,
please let us know.

FAQS - Frequently Asked Questions

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR JEWELRY ??

**We recently acquired an estate of jewelry
that had been purchased online
at the various shopping networks. Most of
it looked never worn.
Some designer and some very collectible pieces.
They are listed at well below 1/2 of their
retail value.
Some of the designers include Suzanne Somers,
Erwin Pearl, Joan Rivers,
Victoria Wiecki, Kenneth Lane, Deidre Hall
and others..

About 15 years ago more maybe more we purchased
the estate/inventory of a jewelry shop
specializing in Mexican silver and sterling
jewelry, gemstones and beads. Some of the
items were still in inventory packaging never
used or worn. We will be selling these items
both
on our site main catalog and in the Past Traditions Mexican galleries as well as on the ebay auction.

Our other jewelry is acquired primarily through
estates,
personal contacts, banks and bulk purchases.
We also have quite a large stocks from the
storage
of an antique jewelry shop we owned for a
10 year
period in the 1980-90's, and some items are
from my
own personal collection of 30 years.

We try to give as much information as possible.
Please pay particular
attention to sizes and condition mentioned
in the item descriptions.
Pictures are not actual size . If we have
unknowingly misrepresented an item or it
is not
what you expected when received, be assured
we will always refund your money
as long as you follow our return process
at http://jarrett.fabpage.com/ordermemo.htm

HOW DO I KNOW IF IT IS REAL ?

**Stones are named i.e.Turquoise,
diamond, etc. only if we know they are genuine.
OR we will refer
to them as "genuine"
Gold is described as marked i.e. 14K or if
we test
(see below for more explanations on specific
metals)

SHORTLIST HELPERS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Terms frequently found in our descriptionsalloy----------------------------------------mixture
of two or more metalsalpaca---------------------`-alloy of copper, zinc,
nickel and 2% silverantique jewelry------------usually refers to items 100
years or olderbaguette ----------------------- stone shaped narrow rectangle
bakelite---------------------------------collectible
plastic jewelry c.1907base metal------------------------------------------------onprecious
metal
bd---------------------------------------------------------------------------beadBerlin iron-------------------black lacquered iron-
Germany 1815-1850bezel --------------------------------------------------
rim holding a stone
cab or cabochon--not faceted. usually with a dome top and
flat bottomcameo---------------------------------portrait
or design carved in reliefcoin silver---------------usually considered 900 parts
silver in th US
collectible value.....................Most
books list the collectible value
market value is usually 1/3 to 1/2 of collectivle
value.costume jewelry ------------- constructed of nonprecious
materialscut steel- iron faceted to imitate diamonds 1760-early
20th centurydiameter ----------------------refers to the widest
part of top of itemEPNS----------------------------------------Electroplate
on nickel silverEPWM---------------------------------------Electroplate
on white metalestate jewelry--------------------refers to previously
owned jewelryfaux----------------------------------------------------------
false, imitation
gemologist---------------professional accredited
in identifying gemsgems------------organic or natural materials
used for ornamentationgen -------------------------------------------------------------------genuine
German silver----------------------------------------imitation
silver alloygf --- --------------------------------------------------------------gold
filledgf on ss ----------------------------------- gold
filled on sterling silverhallmark----------mark stamped or etched on item
for identification
HGE ----------------------------------------------
heavy gold electroplateintaglio-------------------------portrait or scene
cut into the reverse karat -------- began using in US 1906. Refers
to parts gold to alloymarquise ------------------------------------------boat
or navette shapemop --------------------------------------------------------
mother of pearlopaque-----------------------------------cannot
be seen through, solidpave ------------------ style of setting using stones
close togetherPinchbeck------------------------------imitation gold
used 1720-1854.rgp ------------------- rolled gold plate, an
older term for gold filledrstn --------------------------------------------------------------
rhinestone
Signed....Signed by a particular designer,
country or manufacturersignet --------------------------------- using a
monogram,seal or crestsim ------------------------------------------------
simulated or imitationsterling -------------------------refers to 925 or
better silver contenttop size -----------------refers to the widest part
of the top of ringtranslucent-----------can be seen through, but diffused,
not cleartransparent----------------------can be seen through clearlyunmarked ------------means costume or unidentified
metal/stones vermiel (ver-may) --------------French meaning
silver gilt
----------------------------- silver coated
with goldvintage jewelry----------------------jewelry not being currently
produced
but less than 100 years old. OR jewelry consistent
with a particular era.